System for removing crankcase



April 19, 1938. J. 5. FLUOR. JR

SYSTEM FOR REMOVING CRANKCASE VAPORS Filed March 17, 1957 N Q M J a QMkw FE n a Q Q w .3

in ven 2011 John SJ ZuOnJI:

1o tamination that normally occurs.

eating a depression to the vapor space in thecrank case, I removecondensible vapors that- Patented AprI'iB,

PATENT o'FFlcE SYSTEM FOR REMOVING CRANKCASE VAPORS John S. Fiuor, Jr.,Santa Ana, Calif., assignor to The Floor Corporation,

Ltd, Los; Angeles,

Calii'., a corporation of California Application March 17, 1937, SerialNo. 131,356

'1 Claims.

This invention has for its general object to provide a system forremoving vapors and gases from the crank case of an internal combustionengine. Tests have indicated that by continuously removing crank casevapors during engine operation, oil contamination over a period of timeby dilution, as well as by sludge and gum formation due to oxidation,are materially reduced as compared with the degree and kind of oil con-By communiwould otherwise dilute the oil by dissolving therein orcondensing on the walls of the crank case.

and I also produce in the vapor space a less oxidizing atmosphere thatinhibits the formation of contaminating gums and sludges.

In accordance with the invention, vapors are continuously removed fromthe crank case during engine operation through a conduit communicatingwith the vapor space. Preferably, the engine exhaust gas flow isutilized to produce a depression or suction acting to draw the crankcase vapors through the conduit, as by connecting the latter to a jacketsurrounding and spaced from the exhaust pipe to form a passage withinwhich a draft is induced by the discharge of gases from the exhaustpipe. For the purpose of illustrating a typical embodiment of the inven-'tion, it is herein shown and described in conjunction with an enginemanifold and exhaust pipe cooling system that itself comprises thesubject matter of my copending application, Ser. No. 102,878, filedSeptember 28, 1936 of which this application is a continuation-in-part.Although the crank case vapor removal and manifold and exhaustpipecooling systems may advantageous- 1y be combined in one installation, itis to be understood that the present invention is to be regarded broadlyas independent of the manifold and exhaust pipe cooling system, except"as toits claims in which the two systems are claimed in combination.Also it may be observed that the invention is applicable to internalcombustion engines generally, including stationary engines andautomotive vehicle engines.

The above mentioned objects, as well as additional features of theinvention will be more 50 fully understood from the following detaileddescription, throughout which reference is made to the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a general view, partly in section, showing the invention asapplied to an automotive 55 engine;

Fig. 2 illustrates a variant form of the invention asapplied to astationary engine; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the suction conduit andcondensate drain tube connection at the crank case oil inlet. 5

In Fig. 1 of the drawing, I have shown a-conventional vehicle chassisincluding the engine l0 mounted on side rails II, and the body or cabhaving a vertically extending wall l2 at the rear of the engine, andfloor boards 13. The'drawing 10 shows 'a water cooled engine ,havinghose connection M with the radiator l5, and the usual fan l6 whichdirects a current of air longitudinally oi the exhaust manifold l1toward the mouth l8 of the exhaust pipe jacket i9.- The ex- 5 haust pipe20 and mufiler 2| are jacketed by pipe l9 and shell 22 having a tailpipe 23 projecting beyond the mufller outlet 24, said pipe and shellbeing annularly spaced from the exhaust pipe and muflier to form apassage 25 through which an induced'flow of air is created by virtue ofthe exhaust gas discharge from the muflier outlet. It should bementioned that in the claims, the term exhaust pipe is to be construedbroadly as including both the pipe proper that connects 25 with theexhaust manifold, and the\muiiler, except as to those claims where theparts are separately specified.

' During engine operation, the warm air in the vicinity of the exhaustmanifold I1 is directed rearwardly along the manifold by the fan I6, andis drawn into the mouth l8 of the exhaust pipe jacket to be dischargedwith the exhaust gases from the tail pipe 23. With the warm air thusbeing immediately and continuously removed 35 from the engine,overheating of such engine parts as the fuel pump 26 and fuelline 21leading to the carbureter 28, is effectively avoided. By removing theengine heat in this manner, and also by heat insulating the exhaust pipeby the 40 air jacket, I reduce the heat transference to walls I2 and I3of the body to the extent that the interior thereof will at all timesremain comparatively cool.

The invention is more particularly concerned with the provision ofmeans, generally indicated trated, by a connectionat 34 with the end ofshell 22. As will be apparent, the depression existing in passage 25 byvirtue of the exhaust gas discharge, acts during engine operation tocontinuously withdraw vapors from the crank case Ma through line 30.Preferably the communication of suction from the suction passage to thecrank case will be controllable, as by means of a suitable valve 36 inpipe 30. Loss of oil from the crank case by entrainment in the withdrawnvapor stream may be prevented by installing a suitable filter orseparator 53 in line 30, any oil arrested by the filter beingpermittedto drain back through the line into the crank case.

The variant form of the invention shown in Fig. 2 is similar to thedescribed form, except that here the air jacket and crank case vaporwithdrawal conduit are shown applied to a stationary engine having anoverheated exhaust. As in the previous instance, warm air is drawn fromthe exhaust manifold l1 into the mouth 31 of jacket 38 placed about thevertically extending exhaust pipe 39 and connecting with shell 40 placedabout the muflier, not shown, as in Fig. 1. Conduit 4|, connected to themuffler jacket as in Fig. 1, has an-attachment generally indicated at 42with the crank case oil inlet 43, as shown in detail in Fig. 3. Thisconnection comprises a nipple 44 containing an internal annular flange45 forming a pocket 46 into which any liquid; deposited in pipe 4|, asby condensation of vapors being withdrawn from the crank case, drainsfrom the lower swaged end 4'! f nipple 48. The connection at 42 maybebroken to permit pipe 4| and the nipple 48 to be moved to one side whenthe crank case is to be filled through opening 43, by raising sleeve 49which is normally slipped down over nipple 44. Condensate draining intopocket 46 is withdrawn through a drain tube 50 extending--- through avertical slot sleeve ,49.

I claim:

1. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an exhaustpipe and oil containing crankcase, a jacket surrounding said exhaustpipe and containing a passage within which a depression is createdbytvirtue ofthe engine exhaust gas flow, and a conduit connecting said'passage with the vapor space in said crank case. 2. In combination withan. internal combustion engine having an exhaust-pipe connected-to a inthe" mufller, and an oil containing crank case; a. jacket surroundingsaid mufiler and containing a passage within which a depression iscreated by virtue of the engine exhaust gas flow, and a conduitconnecting said passage with the vapor space in said crank case.

3. In an engine driven vehicle, the combination comprising an internalcombustion engine having an exhaust pipe and an oil containing crankcase,

a conduit connected with the vapor space in said crank case, and meansfor communicating suction to said space through said conduit by virtue5. In combination with an internal combustion I engine having an exhaustmanifold, an-exhaust pipe and an oil containing crank case; a conduitsurrounding and spaced from said exhaust pipe and'having' an inletpositioned to receive heated air directly from said manifold, suchheatedair being drawn through said conduit by virtue of the engine exhaustgasfiow, and means connecting said. conduit with the vapor space in saidcrank case.

6, In combination with an internal combustion engine having an exhaustpipe and oil containing crank case; a conduit connectedwith the vaporspace in said crank case, and means operating by virtue of the exhaustgasflow to communicate lowered pressure throughsaid, conduit to thecrankcase to draw vapors from said space.

7. In combination with an internal combustion.

engine havingan exhaust pipe and oil containing crank case, a conduitconnected with the vapor space in said crank case, means operating byvirtue of the exhaust gas flow to communicate lowered pressure throughsaid conduit to the crank case to draw vapors from said space, and meansfor controlling the withdrawal of vapors through the conduitindependently of the exhaust gas flow.

JOHN s. FLUOR, JR.

